By Ken Abu

BENIN CITY –  Edo State House of Assembly has passed a resolution approving the request of the state government to access N2 billion from the N22 billion Central Bank of Nigeria Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development founds.
The adoption of the resolution was sequel, to the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Rules, Business  and Government House on the request of the state government by the majority leader, Hon. Philip Shaibu for consideration.
According to him, during the presentation of the report, Edo State is the least state yet to access the funds as others have already accessed the funds to boost the existing small and medium enterprises in their state
The majority Leader added that the benefits that the N2 billion would bring to the state when fully accessed include the social economic development and transformation of the state.
The fund will help boost the development the of existing  small and medium business while establishing others to complement the effort of the state government in the areas of job creation as any viable economy can only be driven by the active participation of the private sector, the Majority leader added.
The state Parliament at the Committee of the Whole approved through a resolution of the House, the request of the state Government to access the N2 billion found.
Also at plenary, the Edo State House of Assembly announced the lifting of the suspension imposed on two of the suspended Lawmakers of the state Assembly.
The lawmakers are Hon. Kingsley Ehigiamusoe and Hon. Emma Okoduwa.
Making the announcement yesterday under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, Hon. Philip Shaibu  said, the leadership of the House upon the constitution of an ad-hoc committee to investigate the role of the suspended lawmakers in the crisis that rocked the state Assembly in June 2014, it was discovered that the crisis was influenced by external political force plunging the state into anarchy.
The Majority Leader further said that in the spirit of oneness, Love and Celebration of the Yuletide, the House decided to pardon the suspended Lawmakers  for their role in the crisis, adding that  all the parties involved in the crisis decided to heed to the call for peace as earlier canvassed by well-meaning people of the state, including the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa.
The Minority Leader, Hon. Emma Okoduwa and the Minority Whip, Hon Kingsley Ehigiamusoe thanked everyone who ensured peace returned to the state parliament, adding that soon the Legislators APC and PDP lawmakers would  return to Anthony Enahoro Complex.
The Minority Leader at a press conference at the Old Assembly Complex with Hon. Philip Shaibu, Hon. Kingsley Ehigiamusoe and Hon Kabiri Adjoto said that it was very imperative for members of the state Assembly to reconcile their differences in the interest of peace and development  of the state as nobody or political party was bigger than the state.